28 The QUEE NS Courier • JUly 3, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Queens student gives back to local library BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 Someone’s garbage can be turned into someone else’s future, according to 14-year-old student Kashfia Zaman. The Woodside resident is a sophomore at Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria who began a community service project after a teacher suggested students become involved in starting a volunteer project. As part of the project, Zaman collects discarded bottles and cans, deposits them for cash, donates the money to the Queens Library at Long Island City, located at 37-44 21 St., and then asks local businesses to match the amount she collects. “I thought to do something concerning the environment because of global warming,” said Zaman, who hopes to one day be a software engineer or computer programmer. “So I thought about recycling bottles and cans. And I remembered in my elementary school there money, and I decided to do funds from business such Hung of Pao & Cha Cha at was a teacher who, when she something for the community.” as Imagination Unisex Hair 23-03 Astoria Blvd. recycled bottles and cans, she With the help of her teacher, Designer at 25-01 Newton Ave., “I decided to give it to the would cash them in to help her Zaman drafted a written Anthia Digenakis of Function library because the library has sister, whose house fell down pledge and asked businesses to Enhancing Physical Therapy at always been a very important in a tornado. So I got all this sign. She has received matching 32-76 31st St. and Guillermo thing to me. It was always there for me. I could always go to the library and request as many books as I want,” she said. So far, Zaman has collected more than $120 and purchased new books for tweens, children between 10 to 12 years old, at her library. She said she decided to help get books for younger children because she wants to help them get into the habit of reading and become inspired to volunteer and help out in their communities. “I was completely blown away by the vastness of her project and I was excited to buy books for our children,” said Tienya Smith, community library manager at Queens Library at Long Island City. Zaman said that she and a friend are also in the process of creating a website in which they discuss the importance of keeping more libraries open during the weekends, in order for students to have access to do their homework or use the Internet. “On the website we have letters and pictures explaining why we would want to keep the libraries open on weekends,” she said. “My friend and I are also writing a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio asking him if he could make a little more space in the budget for libraries.” Photo Courtesy of Queens Library Tienya Smith, Community Library Manager at Queens Library at Long Island City, with Kashfia Zaman.
QC07032014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above